U.S. patent application number 11/822888 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-08 for portable terminal and health management method and system using portable terminal.
This patent application is currently assigned to CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA. Invention is credited to Toshiaki Sasaki, Sadayuki Sugama, Takayoshi Tsutsumi.
Application Number | 20070260489 11/822888 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27554874 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070260489 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sasaki; Toshiaki ; et
al. |
November 8, 2007 |
Portable terminal and health management method and system using
portable terminal
Abstract
A portable terminal carried and owned by each user is provided
with a display screen, a communication unit, a memory storing
personal information about each user, and an input/output device
such as an inhaler. A database that communicates with each portable
terminal is provided with a personal information storage unit
storing the personal information about each user carrying the
portable terminal, a medical information storage unit storing
information about a medical facility, a drugstore, a medicine, and
the input/output device, and a communication unit for communicating
with each portable terminal. In the database, the user of the
portable terminal is identified by collating the part of the
information transmitted from the communication unit with
information stored in the personal information storage unit. When a
specific signal is transmitted from the communication unit,
communication is performed with a medical facility while
information, of the information stored in the medicine information
storage unit, which is necessary for the user is provided for the
portable terminal as an emergency measure. This makes it possible
to properly and quickly handle an emergency.
Inventors: |
Sasaki; Toshiaki; (Kanagawa,
JP) ; Sugama; Sadayuki; (Ibaraki, JP) ;
Tsutsumi; Takayoshi; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FITZPATRICK CELLA HARPER & SCINTO
30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA
NEW YORK
NY
10112
US
|
Assignee: |
CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
27554874 |
Appl. No.: |
11/822888 |
Filed: |
July 11, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09993663 |
Nov 27, 2001 |
|
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11822888 |
Jul 11, 2007 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/2 ;
128/200.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61M 15/00 20130101;
A61M 2205/609 20130101; G16H 40/20 20180101; G16H 20/10 20180101;
A61M 2205/6027 20130101; G16H 40/63 20180101; A61M 15/0068
20140204; A61M 15/0065 20130101; A61M 15/008 20140204; G16H 20/13
20180101; G16H 10/65 20180101; A61M 2205/6063 20130101; A61M 15/025
20140204; A61M 2205/52 20130101; G16H 10/60 20180101; A61M 15/0083
20140204; A61M 2205/505 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/002 ;
128/200.14 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 50/00 20060101
G06Q050/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 30, 2000 |
JP |
2000/365337 |
Nov 30, 2000 |
JP |
2000/365935 |
Nov 30, 2000 |
JP |
2000/365936 |
Nov 30, 2000 |
JP |
2000/365937 |
Nov 30, 2000 |
JP |
2000/365938 |
Nov 30, 2000 |
JP |
2000/365939 |
Claims
1-50. (canceled)
51. A portable terminal which is arranged to be carried by a user,
including: storage means storing personal information about the
user, including information about a clinical chart of the user and
prescription; an inhaler for discharging a medicine in the form of
fine droplets and making the user inhale the droplets; and driving
control means for changing a parameter associated with discharging
of the medicine within a predetermined period of time in which the
user executes the inhalation so as to enable the user to
efficiently inhale the medicine in accordance with the information
of the prescription.
52. The terminal according to claim 51, wherein the medicine is
discharged in a plurality of steps within the predetermined period
of time in which the inhalation is executed.
53. The terminal according to claim 51, further comprising a sensor
for detecting an inhalation rate of the user, and said driving
control means changes the parameter in accordance with a signal
from said sensor.
54. The terminal according to claim 51, wherein a medicine and a
timing at which the parameter is changed are stored in said storage
means in association with each other.
55. The terminal according to claim 51, wherein the parameter
includes a discharging speed of the droplets.
56. The terminal according to claim 51, wherein the parameter
includes a driving frequency.
57. The terminal according to claim 51, wherein the parameter
includes a size of the droplet.
58. The terminal according to claim 51, wherein the parameter
includes a main droplet/sub-droplet ratio of the droplets.
59. The terminal according to claim 51, wherein the parameter
includes a discharge scheme.
60. The terminal according to claim 51, wherein said inhaler
comprises a discharge head for discharging a medicine by using heat
energy.
61. The terminal according to claim 51, wherein said storage means
is a detachable memory card.
62. A method of driving an inhaler of a portable terminal which is
arranged to be carried by a user, comprising the steps of:
providing storage means for storing personal information about the
user, including information about a clinical chart of the user and
prescription, and an inhaler for discharging a medicine in the form
of fine droplets and making the user inhale the droplets, with the
portable terminal; and changing a parameter associated with
discharging of the medicine within a predetermined period of time
in which the user executes the inhalation so as to enable the user
to efficiently inhale the medicine in accordance with the
information of the prescription.
63. The method according to claim 62, wherein the medicine is
discharged in a plurality of steps within the predetermined period
of time in which the inhalation is executed.
64. The method according to claim 62, wherein an inhalation rate of
the user is detected, and the parameter is changed in accordance
with the detected inhalation rate.
65. The method according to claim 62, wherein a medicine and a
timing at which the parameter is changed are stored in the storage
means in association with each other.
66. The method according to claim 62, wherein the parameter
includes a discharging speed of the droplets.
67. The method according to claim 62, wherein the parameter
includes a driving frequency.
68. The method according to claim 62, wherein the parameter
includes a size of the droplet.
69. The method according to claim 62, wherein the parameter
includes a main droplet/sub-droplet ratio of the droplets.
70. The method according to claim 62, wherein the parameter
includes a discharge scheme.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a health management method
and system using a portable terminal and, more particularly, to a
method and system for managing personal information of a user by
using a portable terminal having a radio communication function and
an input/output device for supporting health management for the
user.
[0002] The present invention also relates to a portable terminal
having an inhaler and a method of controlling the inhaler and, more
particularly, to a portable terminal having a portable terminal
having a radio communication function and an input/output device
for supporting health management for the user and a method of
controlling the inhaler.
[0003] In addition, the present invention relates to a portable
terminal having an inhaler and a method of controlling the inhaler
and, more particularly, to a portable terminal having a storage
means and an inhaler for discharging a medicine in the form of fine
droplets and allowing a user to inhale the medicine and a method of
driving the inhaler.
[0004] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a prescription
determination assist method and system and, more particularly, to a
prescription determination assist method and system for assisting
in determining a prescription for a user carrying a memory card at
a terminal installed in a medical facility.
[0005] Moreover, the present invention relates to an inhaler and a
discharge head control method and, more particularly, to an inhaler
for discharging a medicine in the form of fine droplets and
allowing a user to inhale the medicine and a discharge head control
method for the inhaler.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0006] With recent medical and scientific advances, the average
life span of people is prolonged, and we are witnessing an aging
society. On the other hand, owing to changes in eating habits and
living environment, environmental contamination, viruses, and
germs, new diseases and infections have been found. This has
provoked anxiety among people about health. In so-called advanced
nations, in particular, an increase in the number of people who
suffer lifestyle-related illnesses such as diabetes and hyperpiesia
raises a problem.
[0007] An increase in the number of medical facilities has not kept
pace with an increase in the number of such patients. In addition,
in some areas, there are no medical facilities that allow people to
regularly visit. Under the circumstances, concerns are rising about
future measures including policies against such situations.
[0008] Remote medical systems and home health management systems
have therefore been proposed, which allow the aged and people
suffering lifestyle-related diseases and chronic diseases to
receive diagnoses from doctors and perform daily health
management.
[0009] A typical arrangement of such systems is that a target
individual installs a terminal at his/her home, and connects it to
a server in a medical facility or center through a communication
line such as the Internet so as to input/transmit answers for a
medical inquiry and measurement values such as a blood pressure and
bodily temperature from the terminal. A nurse or doctor then checks
the data collected in the server and returns information indicating
the presence/absence of an abnormality or message.
[0010] To manage such a medical system, clinical records (clinical
charts) of users electronically recorded as electronic clinical
charts and a medical database storing the data of the electronic
clinical charts, various measurement values, and the like are
required. Various proposals have been made about such electronic
clinical charts and medical databases from various fields.
[0011] Electronic clinical charts, in particular, are effective in
preventing medical malpractices and medication errors, which have
become problems. A great deal of attention has been paid to an
electronic clinical chart as a means for satisfying the patient's
right to know by disclosing its contents to the patient or
patient's family.
[0012] Terminals used in the above medical systems include a
general personal computer having a display screen and input device
and a dedicated terminal capable of measuring a specific value such
as a blood pressure.
[0013] When a device such as a general personal computer is to be
used as a terminal, settings for the device and its operation
method become complicated. This limits people who can use such
terminal.
[0014] Assume that dedicated terminals are used. In this case, if a
user suffers a plurality of diseases or ailments and needs to
perform various measurements, he/she must use a plurality of
dedicated terminals. This is cumbersome operation and also
increases burden on the user.
[0015] In a conventionally proposed medical system, if, for
example, a user suffers a chronic disease or the like and needs to
periodically take a medicine, the user must administer and manage a
medicine by himself/herself, and there is no support function on
the system side. For this reason, the burden of administration and
management of medicines on users cannot be reduced.
[0016] More specifically, of diabetic patients who are currently on
increase, patients suffering type I insulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus must periodically take insulin because no insulin is
secreted from the pancreas. Administration of insulin is currently
performed by subcutaneous injection. This imposes great physical
and mental burden on patients.
[0017] To reduce the burden on such patients, a pen-type syringe
having a thin needle that makes the patients feel little pain has
been developed. Type I diabetic patients often work like
able-bodied persons except that the patients must periodically take
insulin. It is difficult for such a patient to take insulin at
proper times because he/she feels dislike to make an inject in the
presence of others even with a pen-type syringe.
[0018] Under the circumstances, a method of discharging a medicine
in the form of droplets and making them reach the lungs together
with inhaled air, thereby administering the medicine through the
lungs instead of injection.
[0019] In such an inhalation scheme, however, since the amount of
air inhaled and inhalation rate vary among patients, it is
difficult to efficiently administer medicines to all patients. For
this reason, this scheme is no practical use.
[0020] Assume that patients can easily administer medicines by
themselves. In this case, problems are posed concerning how to
handle an instance where a patient takes a wrong medicine or does
not take a proper amount of medicine or at wrong intervals.
[0021] A terminal used in the conventional medical system is
designed to be installed in user's home but not to be carried. If,
therefore, the condition of a patient becomes worse or suddenly
changes on the road, a proper treatment cannot be provided.
[0022] This also applies to insurance systems in operation. More
specifically, in receiving a medical consultation or treatment in a
medical facility, a patient generally presents a health insurance
card in Japan or an ID card issued by an insurance company in the
USA. However, the contents written on such an insurance card or ID
card do not include any necessary information for an emergency.
[0023] For example, the contents written on a health insurance card
in Japan include only the name of the patient himself/herself, the
names of dependents, address, the name and location of company, the
type of insurance, insurance card number, and medical treatment
record (brief clinical history), but do not include any information
about a clinical chart, prescription, and the like. The contents
written on an ID card in the USA include only an individual number,
insurance details, and the like but do not include any information
about a clinical chart or prescription either.
[0024] For this reason, demands have arisen for a method of
accurately and efficiently performing medical consultation and
treatment on the basis of a database for managing information about
individual clinical charts and medical information as electronic
data.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The present invention has been made in consideration of the
above situation, and has as its first object to provide a health
management method and system using a portable terminal, which can
properly and quickly handle an emergency in cooperation with a
database storing various pieces of medical information.
[0026] It is the second object of the present invention to provide
a portable terminal having an inhaler, and a control method for the
inhaler, which can accurately manage medicines in accordance with
prescriptions and perform discharging control suitable for each
user, thereby efficiently administering medicines.
[0027] It is the third object of the present invention to provide a
health management method and system using a portable terminal,
which can perform efficient medical practices by sharing
information while protecting personal data associated with
privacy.
[0028] It is the fourth object of the present invention to provide
a portable terminal having an inhaler and a method of driving the
inhaler, which can improve the inhalation efficiency when the
inhaler discharges a medicine.
[0029] It is the fifth object of the present invention to provide a
method and system for supporting determination of a prescription,
which allow proper and efficient determination of a prescription
applied to each patient and a medicine to be administered.
[0030] It is the sixth object of the present invention to provide
an inhaler and a discharge head control method, which can prevent a
patient from loading a wrong medicine and erroneously operating the
inhaler, and also allows the patient to accurately and easily take
a medicine by himself/herself.
[0031] In order to achieve the first object, according to the first
aspect of the present invention, there is provided a health
management system for managing health of each user carrying a
portable terminal, comprising a portable terminal which is arranged
to be carried by a user and includes a display screen, radio
communication means for accessing a predetermined radio
communication network, storage means storing personal information
of the user, and an input/output device for supporting health
management for the user, and a database including personal
information storage means storing the personal information about
each user carrying the portable terminal, medical information
storage means storing information about a medical facility, a
drugstore, a medicine, and the input/output device, and
communication means for communicating with the portable terminal
through the radio communication network, wherein the radio
communication means transmits part of the personal information
stored in the storage means in starting to communicate with the
database, and the database includes identification means for
identifying the user of the portable terminal by collating the part
of the information transmitted from the radio communication means
with information stored in the personal information storage means,
and emergency handling means which is activated upon transmission
of a specific signal from the radio communication means to
communicate with a medical facility whose information is stored in
the medical information storage means in accordance with
information transmitted from the radio communication means and to
provide the portable terminal with information, of the information
stored in the medicine information storage means, which is
necessary for the identified user.
[0032] In addition, in order to achieve the first object, according
to the first aspect of the present invention, there is a health
management method of managing health of each user carrying a
portable terminal, including providing the portable terminal with a
display screen, radio communication means for accessing a
predetermined radio communication network, storage means storing
personal information of the user, and an input/output device for
supporting health management for the user, providing a database for
communicating with each portable terminal with personal information
storage means storing the personal information about each user
carrying the portable terminal, medical information storage means
storing information about a medical facility, a drugstore, a
medicine, and the input/output device, and communication means for
communicating with the portable terminal through the radio
communication network, transmitting part of the personal
information stored in the storage means by the radio communication
means when starting to communicate with the database, identifying
in the database, the user of the portable terminal by collating the
part of the information transmitted from the radio communication
means with information stored in the personal information storage
means, and providing one of communication with a medical facility
whose information is stored in the medical information storage
means and information stored in the medicine information storage
means, which is necessary for the identified user for the portable
terminal when a specific signal is transmitted from the radio
communication means.
[0033] With the arrangement or processing of the first aspect of
the invention, when a specific signal is transmitted from the
portable terminal, the user of the portable terminal is identified
to allow the user to communicate with an medical facility or to
provide the identified user with necessary information, thereby
properly and quickly handling an emergency.
[0034] In order to achieve the second object, according to the
second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
portable terminal which is arranged to be carried by a user and
includes storage means storing personal information about the user,
including information about a clinical chart of the user and
prescription, and an inhaler for discharging a medicine in the form
of fine droplets and making the user inhale the droplets,
comprising discharging control means for controlling the inhaler in
accordance with an inhalation profile of the user to discharge the
medicine, thereby allowing the user to inhale the medicine in
accordance with the information of the prescription.
[0035] In addition, in order to achieve the second object,
according to the second aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a control method for an inhaler for discharging a medicine
in the form of fine droplets and making a user inhale the droplets,
the inhaler being provided for a portable terminal which is
arranged to be carried by a user and includes storage means storing
personal information about the user, including information about a
clinical chart of the user and prescription, and the method
including the step of controlling the discharge of the medicine in
accordance with an inhalation profile of the user, thereby allowing
the user to inhale the medicine in accordance with the information
of the prescription.
[0036] With the arrangement or the processing of the second aspect
of the invention, the dose of medicine and administration intervals
can be accurately managed in accordance with a prescription, and
proper discharging control is performed in accordance with the
inhalation profile of each user, thereby efficiently administering
a medicine.
[0037] In order to achieve the third object, according to the third
aspect of the present invention, there is provided a health
management system for managing health of each user carrying a
portable terminal, comprising a portable terminal which is arranged
to be carried by a user and includes radio communication means for
accessing a predetermined radio communication network, storage
means storing personal information of the user, and an input/output
device for supporting health management for the user, a database
including personal information storage means storing the personal
information about each user carrying the portable terminal, medical
information storage means storing information about a medical
facility, a drugstore, a medicine, and the input/output device, and
communication means for communicating with the portable terminal
through the radio communication network, a medical facility
terminal installed in each medical facility and connected to the
database through a predetermined line, and a drugstore terminal
installed in each drugstore and connected to the database through a
predetermined line, wherein the database sets an access right for
each item of information stored in the personal information storage
means and medical information storage means with respect to each of
the portable terminal, the medical facility terminal, and the
drugstore terminal.
[0038] In addition, in order to achieve the third object, according
to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
health management method of managing health of each user carrying a
portable terminal by using a portable terminal which is arranged to
be carried by a user and includes radio communication means for
accessing a predetermined radio communication network, storage
means storing personal information of the user, and an input/output
device for supporting health management for the user, a database
including personal information storage means storing the personal
information about each user carrying the portable terminal, medical
information storage means storing information about a medical
facility, a drugstore, a medicine, and the input/output device, and
communication means for communicating with the portable terminal
through the radio communication network, a medical facility
terminal installed in each medical facility and connected to the
database through a predetermined line, and drugstore terminal
installed in each drugstore and connected to the database through a
predetermined line, wherein the method comprises the step of
setting an access right in the database, for each item of
information stored in the personal information storage means and
medical information storage means with respect to each of the
portable terminal, the medical facility terminal, and the drugstore
terminal.
[0039] With the arrangement or the processing of the third aspect
of the invention, efficient medical practices can be expected by
storing various personal data and medical data as electronic data
in the database and sharing the information while protecting
personal data associated with privacy by setting an access right
for each terminal.
[0040] In order to achieve the fourth object of the present
invention, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a portable terminal which is arranged to be
carried by a user and includes storage means storing personal
information about the user, including information about a clinical
chart of the user and prescription, and an inhaler for discharging
a medicine in the form of fine droplets and making the user inhale
the droplets, comprising driving control means for changing a
parameter associated with discharging of the medicine within a
predetermined period of time in which the user executes the
inhalation so as to allow the user to efficiently inhale the
medicine in accordance with the information of the
prescription.
[0041] In addition, in order to achieve the fourth object of the
present invention, according to the fourth aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a method of driving an inhaler of a
portable terminal which is arranged to be carried by a user
including providing storage means storing personal information
about the user, including information about a clinical chart of the
user and prescription, and an inhaler for discharging a medicine in
the form of fine droplets and making the user inhale the droplets,
with the portable terminal, and changing a parameter associated
with discharging of the medicine within a predetermined period of
time in which the user executes the inhalation so as to allow the
user to efficiently inhale the medicine in accordance with the
information of the prescription.
[0042] With the arrangement or the processing of the fourth aspect
of the invention, when the inhaler is made to discharge a medicine,
the parameter associated with discharging of the medicine is
changed in accordance with, for example, the inhalation rate. This
can improve the inhalation efficiency by sending a larger amount of
medicine to the lungs.
[0043] In order to achieve the fifth object, according to the fifth
aspect of the present invention, there is provided a prescription
determination support system including a memory card storing
personal information including information about a clinical chart
of each user and prescription, a database having medical
information storage means storing information about correspondence
between a symptom and a medicine prescription, and a medical
facility terminal which is installed in each medical facility, has
a slot in which the memory card is inserted, and is connected to
the database through a predetermined line, the prescription
determination support system being adapted to support determination
of a prescription for the user carrying the memory card at the
medical facility terminal, wherein when the memory card of the user
is inserted into the medical facility terminal, the terminal
presents information about a prescription suitable for the user and
a medicine to be administered on the basis of the personal
information about the user and the information stored in the
medical information storage means.
[0044] In addition, in order to achieve the fifth object, according
to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
prescription determination support method of supporting
determination of a prescription for a user carrying a memory card
at a medical facility terminal by using the memory card storing
personal information including information about a clinical chart
of each user and prescription, a database having medical
information storage means storing information about correspondence
between a symptom and a medicine prescription, and the medical
facility terminal which is installed in each medical facility, has
a slot in which the memory card is inserted, and is connected to
the database through a predetermined line, wherein the method
comprises the step of presenting information about a prescription
suitable for the user and a medicine to be administered is
presented on the basis of the personal information about the user
and the information stored in the medical information storage
means, when the memory card of the user is inserted into the
medical facility terminal.
[0045] With the arrangement or the processing of the fifth aspect
of the invention, a prescription to be applied to each user and a
medicine to be administered to each user can be properly and
efficiently determined by using information about the clinical
chart and prescription of each user and information about the
correspondence between a symptom and a medicine prescription.
[0046] In order to achieve the sixth object, according to the sixth
aspect of the present invention, there is provided a inhaler for
discharging a medicine in the form of fine droplets and allowing a
user to inhale the medicine, comprising storage means storing
personal information about the user including information about a
prescription for the user, a tank which contains the medicine and
has a code for identifying a type of contained medicine, a
discharge head for discharging a medicine supplied from the tank in
the form of fine droplets, and discharge permission means for
permitting operation of the discharge head only when a collation
result on the medicine contained in the tank and a medicine written
on the prescription indicates coincidence upon reading the
code.
[0047] In addition, in order to achieve the sixth object, according
to the sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
discharge head control method for an inhaler comprising providing
the inhaler with storage means storing personal information about a
user including information about a prescription for the user, a
tank which contains the medicine and has a code for identifying a
type of contained medicine, and a discharge head for discharging a
medicine supplied from the tank in the form of fine droplets,
wherein said method comprises the steps of collating the medicine
contained in the tank with a medicine written on the prescription
upon reading the code, and enabling operation of the discharge head
only when the collation result indicates coincidence of the
both.
[0048] With the arrangement or the processing of the sixth aspect
of the invention, in administering a medicine by using the inhaler,
a patient can be prevented from loading a wrong medicine and
erroneously operating the inhaler, and the patient can accurately
and easily take a medicine by himself/herself.
[0049] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters
designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures
thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0050] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specifications, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0051] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall arrangement of
a medical health management system according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0052] FIGS. 2A and 2B views showing data to be handled in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0053] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a user
terminal in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0054] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing inhaling operation using the
user terminal shown in FIG. 3;
[0055] FIG. 5 is a view showing the flow of a medicine in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1;
[0056] FIG. 6 is a view showing the flow of data in the embodiment
shown in FIG. 1;
[0057] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing processing in a consultation
using a medical facility terminal;
[0058] FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing processing in medicine
supply;
[0059] FIG. 9 is a view for explaining an emergency notification
mode; and
[0060] FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing processing for an
inpatient.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0061] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be
described in detail in accordance with the accompanying drawings.
As an embodiment of the health management system of the present
invention, a medical health management system will be
described.
[Overall Arrangement]
[0062] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall arrangement of
a medical health management system according to this embodiment. As
shown in FIG. 1, this embodiment is comprised of a database 100,
medical facility terminal 110, pharmaceutical company terminal 120,
drugstore terminal 130, and user terminals 200A to 200N. FIG. 1
shows one each of the database 100, medical facility terminal 110,
pharmaceutical company terminal 120, and drugstore terminal 130.
Obviously, however, this arrangement is merely an example, and each
component may include a plurality of identical ones. In addition,
FIG. 1 shows only the four user terminals 200A to 200N (to be
generically referred to as a user terminal 200 hereinafter). In
practice, however, many user terminals are connected.
[0063] FIGS. 2A and 2B are views showing data to be handled in this
embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2A, the embodiment handles the
following data as data about each individual to be registered:
basic data including an address, name, date of birth, contact,
occupation, place of employment, and the like, identification data
including an ID (a number if numbers are assigned to all the
people; otherwise, an insurance card number or the like), personal
code number, alphanumeric characters such as a password, and
biometrical authentication data such as fingerprint, voiceprint,
palmprint, face, iris, or retinal blood vessel pattern, health
insurance data including a number, type, usage log, and the like,
electronic medical and prescription data (electronic clinical
chart) for each individual, including a consultation record,
prescription, medication data, hospitalization record, case
history, family case history, and the like, and data of measurement
values obtained by a health examination. Data of a designated
medical facility as the emergency contact and inhaler set data (to
be described later) are also handled as personal data.
[0064] In addition, as shown in FIG. 2B, data handled as medical
data are: medical facility data including a registration number,
location, contact, registered doctors, facilities, and the like,
pharmaceutical company data including a registration number,
location, contact, medicines handled, scale, and the like,
drugstore data including registration number, location, contact,
medicines handled, pharmaceutist name, and the like, drug data
including a drum name, effects, cautions, and the like, and inhaler
data (not shown) including data about handling and maintenance of
an inhaler.
[0065] All these data are stored in the database 100. The data
about each individual are also stored in each user terminal 200 in
the form of a detachable memory card.
[0066] The database 100 is a medical database that is installed
within, for example, a predetermined range, e.g., an administrative
area, and serves to store personal data of each resident in this
area and medical data. This database 100 may be installed in a
special facility or designated special hospital in the
administrative area. The respective databases are connected to each
other so that when a given resident is to receive a medical
treatment in an area other than the residence area or moves from
the residence area, access to necessary data can be made.
[0067] The medical facility terminal 110 is installed in each
medical facility and connected to the database 100. The medical
facility terminal 110 has a slot in which the memory card of the
user terminal 200 is inserted. In a consultation, a doctor or nurse
working at the medical facility inserts the memory card of the user
terminal 200 carried by the patient into the medical facility
terminal 110 to read out personal data about the patient who has
visited for a medical examination so as to use the data as
reference data for the consultation. The doctor or nurse also
updates the data in the database 100 and the data of the electronic
clinical chart in the memory card of the patient on the basis of
the consultation result.
[0068] The prescription data to be recorded at this time includes
an expiration date. When the patient takes a consultation again
within the expiration date, a new expiration date is set as
needed.
[0069] In the consultation, the doctor refers to medicine data as
sell as the personal data about the patient. If the patient suffers
a complication (e.g., suffers a visceral disease and cardiovascular
disease at the same time), the doctor uses the above data as
reference data in making a determination on prescription contents
that are competitive. In such a case, the doctor may give the
patient the information (informed consent) to give priority to the
prescription desired by the patient.
[0070] If the DNA analysis result on each patient is recorded on
the memory card of the patient or database 100, a prescription can
be determined by using techniques called gene diagnosis and gene
therapy instead of the conventional average/statistical
techniques.
[0071] The pharmaceutical company terminal 120 is installed in each
pharmaceutical company and connected to the database 100. A person
who works at the pharmaceutical company accesses the database 100
from this terminal to check inventory data about medicines in a
medical facility or drugstore and update the shipment data of
medicines that are supplied. In addition, he/she processes
production control data on the basis of these data.
[0072] The drugstore terminal 130 is installed in each drugstore
and connected to the database 100. This terminal has a slot in
which the memory card of the user terminal 200 is inserted. A
person who works at the drugstore inserts the memory card of the
user terminal 200 carried by a customer into the drugstore terminal
130 to read out customer's prescription data. In addition, the
person accesses the database 100 from this terminal to read out the
prescription data on the customer who has visited the drugstore and
collate the data with the corresponding data in the database 100.
When the two data coincide with each other, he/she sells the
corresponding medicine to the customer. The person then updates the
medication data in the database 100 and customer's memory card on
the basis of the sold medicine.
[0073] In this case, if the ID or biometrical authentication
information of a person who acts as an alternate is registered in
the database 100 in advance, a family member, caretaker, or the
like, other than the patient himself/herself, can receive a
medicine.
[0074] If the user makes a contract for electronic commerce (EC)
with a financial facility in which the user has an account, a
credit card company, or the like in advance, he/she can make a
payment through the user terminal 200 in purchasing a medicine
without actually paying for the medicine on the spot. This applies
to charges for a consultation and medicine which are paid to a
medical facility.
[0075] The user terminal 200 is compact and lightweight to allow
the user to always carry it. Each terminal is made to correspond to
a specific individual and incorporates a detachable memory card
storing data about the user himself/herself as described above. The
terminal has a radio communication function and an input/output
device for supporting user's health management, and is connected to
the database 100 by radio communication, as needed.
[User Terminal]
[0076] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the
user terminal 200. The user terminal 200 of this embodiment
includes a controller 201 including a CPU for controlling the
overall terminal, an inhaler 202 serving as an input/output device
for supporting user's health management, a communication unit 203
for supporting radio communication, an internal memory 204 storing
control programs and various data, a memory card 205 storing
personal data, an I/O interface 206, key switches 207 including a
ten-key pad and various switches such as an emergency notification
(emergency) switch, a display/speech output unit 208 including a
liquid crystal display, microphone, speaker, and the like, a sensor
209 for biometrical authentication, and a rechargeable battery (not
shown) serving as a power supply such as a secondary battery.
[0077] The inhaler 202 includes a tank 2022B in which a
predetermined amount of liquid medicine is stored, a discharge head
2022A for discharging the medicine, supplied from the tank, in the
form of fine droplets or microdroplets, a control unit 2021 for
driving/controlling the cartridge 2022, and a sensor 2023 for
reading a code attached to a cartridge or tank or detecting the
condition of inhaling (negative pressure) of the user. The inhaler
202 discharges a liquid medicine in the form of fine droplets on
the basis of the ink-jet scheme using heat to form mist or aerosol.
When the user inhales it, the medicine is administered to the
user's body through the lungs.
[0078] This administration method replaces the administration
method using a syringe to facilitate administration of a medicine
by a patient himself/herself and reduce his/her mental and physical
burdens.
[0079] The communication unit 203 is arranged to perform speech
communication based on a proper communication scheme using the
ten-key pad of the key switch 207 and the display/speech output
unit 208 and communicate data with the database 100 by radio.
[0080] Although the radio communication scheme to be used is not
specifically described, the scheme used in a currently available
mobile communication system (e.g., the cell phone system, PHS
system, or car phone system), a satellite system, or a Bluetooth
system may be used.
[0081] The internal memory 204 may be a read-only medium such as a
ROM or a programmable storage medium to allow the user to update or
change a program through the communication unit 203.
[0082] The memory card 205 is at least re-recordable, detachable
storage medium such as a semiconductor storage medium, MO, CD-R,
CD-RW, or compact magnetic disk.
[0083] The I/O interface 206 is designed to selectively connect
external input/output devices 250 such as various measurement
sensors and printers when the user is to measure a blood pressure,
pulse, blood glucose level, bodily temperature, urine protein, or
the like or print his/her measurement data.
[0084] The user terminal 200 in this embodiment is integrated with
the inhaler 202. However, this inhaler 202 may be a detachable
discrete device serving as one of the external input/output devices
250 like other medication devices and the above measurement
sensors.
[0085] The authentication sensor 209 is a sensor for performing
biometrical authentication with respect to the user by using a
fingerprint, voiceprint, palmprint, face, iris, retinal blood
vessel pattern, or the like to allow only the registered person to
use the user terminal 200.
[0086] Although not shown, the user terminal 200 has a navigation
function of detecting the current position of the terminal by using
the intensity of a radio wave received from a GPS or a base station
in a radio telephone network and indicating a route to a nearby
medical facility or drugstore by using map information.
[Security Measures]
[0087] The medical health management system of this embodiment must
be configured to satisfactory protect data because the data handled
by the system are about privacy and important medical data. In
addition, to prevent any medical malpractice and operation error,
this system must be configured to perform failsafe operation.
[0088] For example, data is preferably stored in the database 100
by a scheme that allows only additional writing (additional
recording). However, a specific person in charge may overwrite
certain old data upon backing up the data to another storage
medium. In order to suppress an excessive increase in the necessary
capacity of the memory card of the user terminal 200, data that has
aged a predetermined number of years may be overwritten.
[0089] The database 100 sets an access right for each data item
with respect to each of the terminals to which the database 100 is
connected, including the medical facility terminal 110,
pharmaceutical company terminal 120, drugstore terminal 130, and
user terminal 200.
[0090] More specifically, the medical facility terminal 110 can
access all the data in the database 100, but can write only part of
the data about the medical facility, the data of a usage log of the
health insurance card carried by a patient who has visited the
medical facility, the data of a clinical chart, and the data of
measurement values obtained by a health examination and the like.
The drugstore terminal 130 can access personal prescription data
and medication data when the memory card of the user terminal of
the customer is inserted in the drugstore terminal and the IDs
coincide with each other, but can normally access only data about
medicines and data about pharmaceutical companies. The drugstore
terminal 130 can access only data about medicines and data about
inventory conditions in medical facilities and drugstores.
[0091] In addition, an ID, personal code number, password, and the
like must be input to operate each of these terminals. Biometrical
authentication may also be performed by using a sensor similar to
that of the user terminal 200.
[0092] Since the database 100 is connected to the user terminal 200
by radio, especially strict security measures must be taken. The
user terminal 200 can access only the personal data about the user
and can write only a usage log of medicines (medication data) and
data obtained by measurement done by the user himself/herself. When
the user accesses the database 100 from the user terminal 200,
biometrical authentication is performed by using the authentication
sensor 209 in addition to authentication using alphanumerical
characters such as an ID, personal code number, password. In
communicating data, an encryption technique is preferably used to
prevent leakage and tapping (eavesdropping).
[0093] In this embodiment, security measures are also taken for
medicines prescribed to the user to prevent a usage error,
medication error, and operation error.
[0094] Every time medication is performed by using the inhaler 202
of the user terminal 200, the cartridge 2022 or tank 2022B is
exchanged with a new one. Therefore, each cartridge or tank is
packaged independently to allow the user to easily discern whether
it is opened or not. One of the above components may be exchanged
with a new one for each medication in accordance with the medicine
or discharge method to be used. For the sake of simplicity,
however, assume that the tank 2022B is exchanged.
[0095] When only a tank is exchanged for each medication, a
discharge head is used a plurality of number of times. In order to
ensure high discharge performance, however, when a given cartridge
is used a predetermined number of times or a predetermined period
of time has elapsed after the cartridge is loaded, a warning that
prompts the user to exchange the cartridge with a new one is
preferably provided by picture or sound. In addition, the discharge
head is preferably designed such that a heater for generating heat
energy is disconnected to inhibit the user from performing actual
inhaling operation. When a new cartridge is loaded, the user is
made to input his/her ID or password so as to be authenticated
again.
[0096] Wrong medicine administration is preferably prevented in the
following manner. An optically or electrically readable code is
attached the tank 2022B. When the tank 2022B is loaded into the
user terminal 200, the information of the code is collated with the
medicine data written on the electronic clinical chart stored in
the memory card 205. If a tank containing a medicine contradicting
with the electronic clinical chart is loaded, the patient tries to
take a medicine in amount exceeding the dose designated by a
doctor, or the patient takes a medicine at improper intervals, a
warning is provided by picture or sound, and actual inhaling
operation is inhibited.
[0097] Attaching a similar code to the cartridge 2022 can also
effectively prevent a wrong cartridge from being loaded. In
addition, since each cartridge has an electrical terminal for
connection to the control unit 2021, the type of cartridge may be
identified by using this terminal.
[0098] If a used tank is refilled with a medicine and reused, a
deterioration in the purity of the medicine or bacterial
contamination may occur. This can be effectively prevented as
follows. The outer wall of a tank is made of a metal so as to
prevent refilling or the above code is overwritten or rewritten to
prevent a read of the code after a medicine is used. Alternatively,
tanks or medicines themselves may be colored in different colors
for the respective prescriptions to allow the user to easily
identify them, or the entire inhaler portion is exchanged with a
new one in using a different medicine to prevent mixture of
medicines.
[0099] Furthermore, to perform administration of a medicine at
proper intervals based on a prescription, the patient is preferably
informed of the timing of administration of the medicine by
picture, sound, vibration, or the like.
[0100] In actually operating the inhaler, the user is preferably
made to input his ID or password to authenticate personal
identification again. In addition, when the user makes an operation
error or a device fault is detected during operation, the operation
of the inhaler is preferably stopped immediately for safety.
[0101] Since the user terminal in this embodiment is
battery-driven, in order to prevent the battery from running out
during inhaling operation, the following operation is required. The
remaining power of the battery is checked. If one inhaling
operation cannot be done with the remaining capacity, inhaling
operation is inhibited. Alternatively, the patient must be notified
in advance that the battery will run out after a few inhaling
operations. In addition, if the remaining capacity of the battery
becomes small, the operation mode may be switched to the power save
mode in which the power consumption is smaller than that in the
normal discharge mode by, for example, prolonging the discharge
time.
[0102] In addition, in order to protect the discharge surface
(nozzle) of the discharge head and maintain high discharge
performance from the hygienic viewpoint, the nozzle surface is
capped to prevent a medicine residue on the surface from being
dried and fixed and also prevent unnecessary medicine from leaking.
This cap is preferably integrated with a cap for the inhaler.
[Emergency Notification]
[0103] The user terminal 200 in this embodiment is made to enter
the emergency notification mode by continuously pressing the
emergency notification (emergency) switch on the key switch 207 of
the user terminal 200 for a predetermined period of time when the
condition of the patient abruptly changes or abnormality
occurs.
[0104] FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of the contents of the
emergency notification mode. As shown in FIG. 9, when the user
terminal in this embodiment enters the emergency notification mode,
a menu window is displayed. If the user performs no operation for a
predetermined period of time after the menu window is displayed, it
is determined that a serious condition has occurred, and emergency
notification is performed. In this emergency notification mode, an
ambulance is automatically called and a notification is
automatically made to a preset contact point such as a family
member.
[0105] The items prepared on the menu screen for emergency
notification include a contact to a designated doctor, notification
of additional medical contents, designation of emergency treatment
contents, navigation, urgent speech communication, and the
like.
[0106] "Urgent speech communication" is done by the user
himself/herself, if he/she can make it, to make a contact to an
emergency facility so as to give information about his/her
condition or to make a contact to a doctor or family.
[0107] "Navigation" is the function of indicating a route to a
nearby medical facility or drugstore or the one which can supply
the medicine used by the patient on the basis of the medical data
stored in the database 100.
[Cartridge and Tank]
[0108] A cartridge in this embodiment discharges a medicine in the
form of fine droplets on the basis of the ink-jet scheme using
heat. This scheme is basically the same as the so-called bubble jet
scheme practiced in printing apparatuses like printers. However,
this scheme has several characteristic features in a discharge head
and tank which differ from those of printing apparatuses.
[0109] For example, a discharge head is made of a material plated
with gold, ceramic material, or glass material. In addition, the
arrangement of discharge openings (nozzles) and the shape of each
discharge opening are changed in accordance with the type of
medicine discharged and the method of medication (e.g., whether to
need to reach the lungs or not).
[0110] A medicine to be contained in a tank may be colored to allow
the user to visually check the remaining amount, or may be mixed
with a saccharide or polysaccharide, which tends to be scorched, in
advance to prevent the property of the medicine from being changed
by heating. Furthermore, the amount of medicine to be contained in
the tank is preferably determined by adding the amount of medicine
required for recovery processing performed when a discharge error
occurs during operation or performed before or after inhaling
operation to the amount of medicine required for one medication so
as to leave a certain amount of medicine when discharge operation
is properly performed.
[0111] A tank in this embodiment has a double structure. That is,
an outer wall made of a metal or the like is integrally formed with
an inner wall made of a flexible member whose shape changes in
accordance with the amount of medicine contained. This tank differs
from an ink tank used in the general ink-jet scheme in that it has
neither porous absorber inside nor atmosphere communication
port.
[0112] Tanks are packaged and supplied, for example, a
predetermined number of tanks at a time. In this case, instruments
and jigs such as droppers and sterile absorbent gauzes for
maintaining discharge heads and caps are preferably packaged
together.
[0113] As described above, in this embodiment, every time
medication is performed, the tank 2022B is exchanged with a new
one, and the cartridge 2022 is also exchanged after a predetermined
number of times of medication or at predetermined intervals. The
exchanged cartridges and tanks are effectively recycled in the
following manner.
[0114] Cartridges and tanks are manufactured by a pharmaceutical
company and supplied to patients through pharmacies belonging to
medical facilities and ordinary drugstores. As described above,
when a patient is to obtain a cartridge or tank, he/she inserts the
memory card into the medical facility terminal 110 or drugstore
terminal 130. The prescription data stored in the memory card is
then collated with the prescription data stored in the database
100. Since medicine data includes the data of a medicine used in
the past, whether the patient has already used the same type of
cartridge or tank can be easily known.
[0115] If the patient has used the same type of cartridge or tank,
he/she brings it with him/her and exchanges it with a new one. In
this case, if information indicating whether the cartridge or tank
has been collected is also recorded as a medicine usage log in the
medicine data, collection can be done more reliably.
[0116] The cartridge or tank is collected to the pharmaceutical
company through a medical facility or drugstore. The outer
appearance and function of the cartridge or tank are then checked.
The cartridge or tank that can be further used is cleaned,
sterilized/disinfected, and refilled with a medicine. After the
information of the code on the cartridge or tank is rewritten, it
is reused. [
Inhaling Operation]
[0117] Processing in actual inhaling operation using the user
terminal 200 in this embodiment will be described next with
reference to the flow chart of FIG. 4.
[0118] First of all, it is checked whether adjustments for the
administration of a medicine have been done (step S301). This
adjusting operation includes the initialization step of registering
data such as the amount of a medicine for one medication and
medication intervals (step S302), the test inhaling step of
determining discharge conditions by measuring the amount of air
inhaled by each user and a profile (step S303), and the decision
step of checking whether the adjustments are done properly as a
result of the test inhaling (step S304).
[0119] This adjusting operation is performed under the guidance of
an expert, e.g., a doctor when it is diagnosed that a medicine must
be administered. The measured amount of air inhaled, the measured
profile, and the determined discharge conditions are stored as
inhaler setting data in both the database 100 and the memory card
205 of the user terminal 200.
[0120] To perform actual inhaling operation, a cartridge and/or
tank are/is loaded into the inhaler 202 (step S305). To allow the
user to perform the operation, authentication with respect to the
user is then performed on the basis of a combination of one of an
ID, personal code number, and password, and a biometrical
authentication means such as a fingerprint (step S306).
[0121] Before actual inhaling operation, inhalation/recovery
processing is performed by using instruments such as an inhaling
jig (step S307). The user then holds the discharge opening end of
the inhaler in his/her mouth and executes inhaling operation (step
S308). The inhaler starts discharging the medicine upon detecting
the inhalation by the user with a negative pressure sensor or the
like. While the medicine is discharged, the user terminal
preferably generates a signal sound or the like. When a
predetermined amount of medicine is discharged after the user
repeats inhalation several times (step S309), the inhaling
operation is terminated. The end of inhalation is preferably
informed by signal sound or indication.
[Driving Control of Discharge Operation]
[0122] In this embodiment, a liquid medicine is discharged in the
form of fine droplets on the basis of the ink-jet scheme using
heat. In this scheme, a driving waveform is formed into a
pulse-like shape to control the number of droplets discharged on
the basis of the number of pulses. This scheme is therefore suited
to accurately managing the amount of liquid discharged.
[0123] In this embodiment, however, to use this scheme for medical
treatment, discharging control is performed differently from that
in a printing apparatus. More specifically, the printing apparatus
prints by discharging ink downward on a print medium such as a
paper sheet. In contrast to this, the inhaler in this embodiment
must discharge a medicine in the form of mist or aerosol and make
the medicine reach the lungs, together with the air inhaled by the
user.
[0124] For this reason, control must be performed to decrease the
size of each droplet to a size much smaller than that in the
general printing apparatus and reliably discharge droplets with
such a small size by a proper amount. If the size of each droplet
decreases, the kinetic energy of discharged droplets is low. These
droplets need not be discharged in almost one direction as in a
printing apparatus, and the droplets discharged in various
directions may fly and collide with each other.
[0125] In this embodiment, therefore, driving parameters are
changed in accordance with the profile (pattern) of air inhalation.
For example, in inhaling air, the amount of air inhaled per unit
time is large at the start time point, and decreases immediately
before the end of inhalation. If, therefore, the medicine is to be
discharged a plurality of number of times within an inhalation time
(one to two sec), different discharging speeds, different driving
frequencies, and the like are set for the first discharge operation
and the last discharge operation. Alternatively, the discharge
scheme, the size of each droplet, and the main droplet/sub-droplet
ratio may be changed. The timing at which these driving parameters
are changed is preferably stored in the memory card in association
with the medicine to be used.
[0126] Furthermore, the profiles of air inhalation vary among
individuals owing to ages, sexes, physiques, and the like. For this
reason, even with the same prescription, the profiles must be
finely adjusted (tuned) in accordance with the respective users.
This operation will be described with reference to the portion
described in association with steps S302 to S304 in the flow chart
of FIG. 4.
[0127] To check whether inhalation is accurately performed,
discharged droplets are preferably monitored by an optical
detection means or the like. In this case, if inhalation is not
properly performed, a warning is preferably generated. As a
detection method, for example, a method of detecting reflected
light, refracted light, transmitted light, or scattered light or a
coloring matter or fluorescent agent mixed in a medicine or a
method using a laser may be used.
[Flow of Medicine]
[0128] The flow of a medicine (cartridge and tank) in this
embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 5.
[0129] The medicines manufactured by a pharmaceutical company are
supplied to medical facilities and drugstores. Assume that it is
required for a user (patient) to take a medicine as a result of
consultation with a doctor. In this case, if, for example, the user
visits the medical facility for the first time, he/she receives a
medicine for a predetermined number of days from the pharmacy of
the medical facility from which he/she has taken the
consultation.
[0130] In the second or subsequent visit with a consultation, the
user receives a medicine from the pharmacy of the medical facility
in the same manner as described above. At this time, the previously
received and used medicine is exchanged with a new one, and the
data of the new medicine is written in the medication data on the
electronic clinical chart.
[0131] If no consultation need be taken, the user may receive the
medicine from a drugstore. In this case as well, the previously
received and used medicine is exchanged with a new one, and the
data of the new medicine is written in the medication data on the
clinical chart by using a drugstore terminal.
[0132] The used medicine received from the patient is collected
from the medical facility or drugstore to the pharmaceutical
company and recycled in the above manner.
[Flow of Data]
[0133] FIG. 6 is a view schematically showing the flow of data in
this embodiment.
[0134] As shown in FIG. 6, the health management system according
to this embodiment has the database 100 as a main component, which
manages data in a centralized manner. The respective terminals also
manage necessary information in a decentralized manner.
[0135] The medical facility terminal 110 reads out medicine data
from the database 100. In a consultation, the medical facility
terminal 110 reads out the personal data of the patient from the
memory card of the user terminal 200, collates the data with the
data read out from the database 100, and writes the data of a
health insurance card and electronic clinical chart in the database
100 and the memory card of the patient.
[0136] The pharmaceutical company terminal 120 reads out inventory
data on medicines in medical facilities and drugstores from the
database 100, and writes the data of shipped medicines as shipment
data in the database 100. If a new medicine is developed or new
effect is found, the pharmaceutical company terminal 120 writes new
medicine data in the database 100.
[0137] The drugstore terminal 130 reads out prescription data and
medication data from the memory card of the user terminal 200 of
the patient when he/she visits the drugstore, and collates the data
with the prescription read out from the database 100. The
medication data about the medicine purchased by the patient is
written in the memory card and the database 100.
[0138] The measurement data obtained by the patient himself/herself
using a medical diagnostic instrument or outside the medical
facility is written in the memory card of the user terminal 200 of
the patient. This measurement data is written in the database 100,
as needed, through the medical facility terminal 110. In addition,
in response to a request from the patient, the data of the
electronic clinical chart or navigation data about a nearby medical
facility or drugstore is read out from the database 100.
SPECIFIC EXAMPLES
[0139] Specific examples of how health management is performed for
several patients by using the health management system according to
this embodiment will be described below.
[0140] Assume that in the following specific examples, each patient
has already possessed the user terminal 200 having a memory card
which is issued by a public facility such as a public office or a
medical facility from which the patient has taken a period medical
checkup and stores basic data, identification data, health
insurance data, and measurement data.
(1) Insulin-Treated Patient
[0141] The flow charts of FIGS. 7 and 8 show examples of processing
to be performed when a consultation is performed and a medicine is
supplied, respectively. An example of a patient who needs insulin
treatment will be described below with reference to these flow
charts.
[0142] A patient A was told in a periodic medical checkup that
his/her blood glucose level was high, and hence visited a nearby
medical facility to take a consultation. The patient removed the
memory card from this/her user terminal and handed it to a doctor.
The doctor inserts the patient's memory card into an medical
facility terminal (step S701). The patient then consulted the
doctor (step S702). As a result of the consultation, this case was
diagnosed as type I insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and the
patient must periodically medicated with insulin. As a medicine to
be prescribed, a mixed formulation of an intermediate type medicine
and an immediate type medicine is determined, and the patient was
obliged to take 20 units of each medicine within 30 min before
breakfast and dinner. Upon consulting with the doctor, standard
intake times were set, and an electronic clinical chart was formed
(step S703).
[0143] The data of this electronic clinical chart was written in
the memory card of the user terminal 200 of the patient and the
database 100. At this time, the data of a photograph of the
patient's face and a fingerprint of the patient were newly written
as authentication data. The patient A selected pulmonary inhalation
as a method of taking insulin (step S704), and would use the
inhaler of the user terminal 200 for the first time.
[0144] As described in association with steps S302 to S304 in FIG.
4, the inhaler setting data about the patient A was registered in
the memory card and database under the guidance of the doctor (step
S705).
[0145] Upon completion of the above processing, prescription data
was created/updated (step S706), and the patient's memory card was
removed from the medical facility terminal and returned to the
patient (step S707), thus terminating the processing at the time of
consultation.
[0146] The patient A went to the pharmacy of the medical facility
while carrying the user terminal 200 to receive a medicine. The
patient handed his/her memory card to a person in charge in the
pharmacy, and the person inserted the memory card into the medical
facility terminal in the pharmacy (step S801) to authenticate the
patient with an ID and fingerprint (step S802). The person then
checked the prescription data in the memory card by collating it
with the prescription data in the database (step S803). If the data
do not coincide with each other in step S802 or S803, the
processing is interrupted, and the prescription is informed of the
corresponding information.
[0147] Since the data coincided with each other in steps S802 and
S803, the person in charge handed insulin for one month to the
patient A (step S804). This insulin is contained in a cartridge,
and the medicine box that the prescription has received also
contains an inhaling jig. It was checked that this medicine was
supplied for the first time (step S805). Information such as the
amount of insulin received, date, expiration date, intervals, and
the like is written as medication data in both the memory card and
the database (step S807). The memory card was then removed and
returned to the patient (step S808).
[0148] When the patient A returned home, a warning sound indicating
a standard setting time was generated, and the patient A took out
one of cartridges, each of which was packaged, from the received
medicine box. The patient carefully opened the package and
confirmed that no medicine leaked. The patient then loaded the
cartridge into the inhaler. When the cartridge was mounted, the
user terminal collated the prescription data written on the
electronic clinical chart in the memory card with the information
of the loaded cartridge and displayed the type of cartridge and the
loading time on the display.
[0149] As described with reference to steps S306 to S309 in FIG. 4,
after the user was authenticated with an ID or fingerprint and
inhaling/restoring operation was performed by using a jig, the user
inhaled insulin and completed self-administration operation by
inhalation. The date when the patient executed inhaling operation
was stored in the memory card.
[0150] When the patient periodically repeated such inhaling
operation for several days, he/her felt ill on the road. The
patient then went to a nearby drugstore by using the navigation
function of the user terminal, measured his/her blood glucose
level, and stored the measurement result in the memory card. Since
the measurement value was slightly higher than the normal value,
the patient transferred the data stored in the memory card to the
database, and contacted the doctor in charge by using the emergency
notification function of the user terminal, thus asking for an
instruction from the doctor through speech communication.
[0151] Another day, the patient went to his/her accustomed
drugstore because the insulin on hand began to run out, and found
that the drugstore had run out of stock. The patient therefore went
to a nearby drugstore having insulin in stock by searching for it
using the navigation function. The patient received a new cartridge
according to the above procedure described with reference to steps
S801 to S804 in FIG. 8. In this case, since this medicine was not
supplied for the first time, the flow advanced from step S805 to
step S806 to return the used cartridge. At the drugstore terminal,
the medication data in the memory card and database were updated,
and the inventory data of the medicine was updated. The memory card
was then returned to the patient.
(2) Impotentia Erigendi Case
[0152] An impotentia erigendi case will be described next with
reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 7 and 8.
[0153] A patient B went to a medical facility to receive a
consultation. The patient removed a memory card from his/her user
terminal and handed it to a doctor. The doctor inserts the memory
card into an medical facility terminal (step S701) and performed a
consultation (step 702). As a result of the consultation, the
patient was diagnosed with impotentia erigendi. It was then
determined on the basis of the consultation with the doctor that
the patient would take gonadotrophic hormone by pulmonary
inhalation for three months. It was determined that the medicine
would be supplied weekly, and the patient would take the medicine
at predetermined intervals which were determined by himself/herself
as necessary. The above information was written in both the memory
card and the electronic clinical chart in the database (step
S703).
[0154] The inhaler setting data about the patient B were registered
in the memory card and database under the guidance of the doctor as
described with reference to steps S302 to S304 in FIG. 4 (step
S705). At the same time, data of a photo of the face and
fingerprint were also written newly as authentication data.
[0155] When the above processing was completed, the doctor
created/updated prescription data (step S706), removed the
patient's memory card from the medical facility terminal, and
returned it to the patient (step S707), thus completing the
processing in the consultation.
[0156] The patient B went to the pharmacy of the medical facility
while carrying the user terminal 200, and handed the memory card to
a person in charge in the pharmacy. The person in charge inserted
the memory card into a medical facility installed in the pharmacy
(step S801) to authenticate the patient with the ID and the photo
of the face (step S802), and checked the prescription in the memory
card by collating it with the prescription in the database (step
S803). The person in charge then handed a medicine for one week to
the patient B (step S804). This medicine is of a type that is
exchanged with a new one in the form of a tank, and the received
medicine box also contains an inhaling jig. The person determined
that this medicine was supplied for the first time (step S805), and
wrote medicine data such as the amount of medicine received, date,
expiration date, and intervals in both the memory card and the
database (step S807). The person removed the memory card and
returned it to the patient (step S808).
[0157] The patient B took out the tank from the medicine box and
loaded it into the cartridge as needed, and took the medicine by
himself/herself by inhalation as in the case of (1) in accordance
with a desired effect exertion time.
[0158] The received medicine ran out one week after it was
received, and hence the patient B went to the drugstore. The
patient received a new tank according to the processing described
with reference to steps S801 to S804 in FIG. 8. In this case, since
the medicine was not supplied for the first time, the flow advanced
from step S805 to step S806 to return the used tank. At the
drugstore terminal, the medication data and the inventory data of
the medicine in the memory card and database were updated, and the
memory card was returned to the patient.
(3) Person Who Wants to Quit Smoking
[0159] A case of a person who wants to quit smoking will be
described next with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 7 and
8.
[0160] A patient C went to a medical facility to have medical
treatment with the aim of quitting smoking. The patient removed a
memory card from this user terminal and handed it to a doctor. The
doctor inserted the patient' memory card into an medical facility
terminal (step S701) and made a medical inquiry (step S702). The
doctor determined on the basis of the medical inquiry and
consultation that the prescription would take a medicine by
pulmonary inhalation to reduce the nicotine intake step by step. It
was determined that the medicine would be supplied weekly, and the
maximum dose per day would be determined in accordance with a
predetermined concentration decrease gradient. The above
information was written in the memory card and the electronic
clinical chart in the database (step S703).
[0161] The inhaler setting data about the patient C were registered
in the memory card and database under the guidance of the doctor as
described with reference to steps S302 to S304 in FIG. 4 (step
S705). At the same time, data of a photo of the face and
fingerprint were also written newly as authentication data.
[0162] In this case, the inhaler is controlled such that when the
patient inhales the medicine at predetermined intervals or shorter
intervals, the nicotine intake per day decreases, and the patient
is inhibited from inhaling the medicine in amount exceeding the
maximum dose per day. In addition, the inhaler is controlled such
that even if the dose in the previous day is less than the maximum
dose, the remaining amount of medicine is not added to the amount
of medicine for the next data.
[0163] When the above processing is completed, prescription data is
created/updated (step S706), and the patient's memory card is
removed from the medical facility terminal and returned to the
patient (step S707), thus terminating the processing at the time of
consultation.
[0164] The patient C went to the pharmacy of the medical facility
while carrying the user terminal 200, and handed his/her own memory
card to a person in charge in the pharmacy. This person inserted
the memory card into the medical facility terminal installed in the
pharmacy (step S801) to authenticate the patient with the ID and
the photo of the face (step S802), and checked the prescription in
the memory card by collating it with the prescription in the
database (step S803). The person in charge then handed a medicine
for one week to the patient C (step S804). This medicine is of a
type that is exchanged with a new one in the form of a tank, and
the received medicine box also contains an inhaling jig. The person
determined that this medicine was supplied for the first time (step
S805), and wrote medicine data such as the amount of medicine
received, date, expiration date, and intervals in both the memory
card and the database (step S807). The person removed the memory
card and returned it to the patient (step S808).
[0165] The patient C took out the tank from the medicine box
several times a day, loaded in into the cartridge, and took the
medicine by himself/herself by pulmonary inhalation as in the case
of (1) instead of smoking.
[0166] The received medicine ran out one week after it was
received, and hence the patient C went to another medical facility.
A doctor inserted the memory card of the patient C into the medical
facility terminal, set the maximum dose per day and the number of
times of inhalation for each inhaling operation in accordance with
the concentration decrease gradient set by reading out data from
the electronic clinical chart of the patient C, and wrote a new
prescription. In addition, the inhaler was adjusted in accordance
with the new prescription.
[0167] The patient received a new tank at the pharmacy of the
medical facility according to the processing described with
reference to steps S801 to S804 in FIG. 8 as in the above case. In
this case, since the medicine was not supplied for the first time,
the flow advanced from step S805 to step S806 to return the used
tank. At the medical facility terminal of the pharmacy, the
medication data and the inventory data of the medicine in the
memory card and database were updated, and the memory card was
returned to the patient.
(4) Inpatient
[0168] A case of an inpatient will be described next with reference
to the flow chart of FIG. 10.
[0169] In a periodic medical checkup, a stomach cancer in a patient
D was found. The patient therefore went to a medical facility to
take ablation surgery. In the medical facility, a doctor inserted
the patient's memory card into a medical facility terminal (step
S1101) to diagnose the case by reading out past medical checkup
result and stomach X-ray photograph images, and performed an
operation (step S1102).
[0170] The doctor created an electronic clinical chart including a
medical treatment after the operation on the basis of the operation
result (step S1103). The memory card of the patient D was moved to
a bed-side terminal attached to a bed in the hospital in which the
patient D would stay (step S1104), and persons in charge, e.g., a
doctor and nurse, were registered (step S1105).
[0171] This bed-side terminal is a modification of the medical
facility terminal 110, and has almost the same arrangement as that
of the user terminal 200 except that the inhaler 202 is omitted.
However, this terminal has a wide display for better viewability.
The name of the patient, the name of disease, and the symptom are
always displayed on this display screen.
[0172] For everyday treatment performed by the doctor or nurse,
he/she identifies the patient according to the name and symptom
displayed on the display screen (step S1106), and inputs the ID of
the doctor or nurse to read out the electronic clinical chart (step
S1107). The doctor then makes his rounds or the doctor or nurse
performs a necessary check or measurement (step S1108). The
prescription data is updated on the basis of the resultant data
(step S1109).
[0173] When a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the
condition of the patient improved, and the patient was given a
permission to leave the hospital (step S1110). When the patient
left the hospital, the memory card was returned to him/her (step
S1111).
Effects of Embodiment
[0174] As has been described above, this embodiment has the
following effects.
[0175] (1) Various personal data and medical data are electronized
and stored in the database, and hence efficient medical practices
can be expected by information sharing.
[0176] (2) Personal data about privacy can be protected by setting
an access right for each terminal and personal identification.
[0177] (3) Since each user terminal has the emergency notification
mode, emergencies can be properly and quickly handled.
[0178] (4) Administering a medicine by using the inhaler of a user
terminal instead of injection as in the prior art allows a patient
himself/herself to easily take the medicine, thus reducing his/her
mental and physical burdens.
[0179] (5) In discharging a medicine from the inhaler, the driving
parameters are changed in accordance with the inhalation rate and
the like to send a large amount of medicine to the lungs, thereby
improving the inhalation efficiency.
[0180] (6) In administering a medicine by using the inhaler, the
medicine can be efficiently administered by performing proper
discharging control in accordance with the amount of air inhaled by
each patient and the profile.
[0181] (7) When a patient takes a medicine by himself/herself, the
patient can be prevented from loading a wrong medicine or
erroneously operating the inhaler.
[0182] (8) With the controller of a user terminal, the dose of a
medicine and medication intervals can be accurately managed in
accordance with prescription data.
[0183] (9) Since the supply and administration of medicines are
recorded, the medicines used by each patient and inventories can be
accurately managed. In addition, used cartridges and tanks can be
accurately collected.
[0184] (10) Prescription data is also stored in the memory card of
each user terminal. This allows each user to receive medicines
according to a prescription by reading the data regardless of the
area where he/she is located.
[0185] (11) The navigation function of each user terminal
facilitates access to a nearby or suitable medical facility or
drugstore.
Other Embodiment
[0186] The above embodiment has exemplified the medical health
management system. However, the present invention can be applied to
various other applications.
[0187] For example, the present invention may be applied to a
system for instructing each user to regularly practice diet and
exercise for health and beauty in accordance with a preset program
by using a user terminal similar to the one described above and a
terminal installed in a sports club or the like, or the above
inhaler of the user terminal may be used to take proper amounts of
vitamins and minerals, other than medicines, which are necessary
for health.
[0188] When the present invention is used for such an application
other than medical applications, the data stored in the database
and each terminal and the function of each user terminal are
changed as needed.
[0189] In addition, the present invention can be used as a medical
health management system in such a manner that the above inhaler of
the user terminal is used for an inhalation treatment for an
asthmatic patient or to administer a medicine into the patient's
body, which is currently administered by injection or in the form
of an internal medicine.
[0190] The arrangement of the health management system is not
limited to the above embodiments. For example, the database may be
incorporated in the medical facility terminal.
[0191] As many apparent widely different embodiments of the present
invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope
thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the
claims.
* * * * *